FIRM ACQUIRES PARTNER 3D SYSTEMS BUYS SWISS COMPANY.VALENCIA - 3D Systems Corp. has acquired a Swiss firm that develops and manufactures materials for use in Valencia-based 3D's stereolithography systems that produce three-dimensional models from computer screen images. RPC (Remote Procedure Call) A programming interface that allows one program to use the services of another program in a remote machine. The calling program sends a message and data to the remote program, which is executed, and results are passed back to the calling , now a wholly owned subsidiary Wholly Owned Subsidiary A subsidiary whose parent company owns 100% of its common stock. Notes: In other words, the parent company owns the company outright and there are no minority owners. of 3D Systems, will continue to manufacture and distribute from its headquarters in Marly marl n. A crumbly mixture of clays, calcium and magnesium carbonates, and remnants of shells that is sometimes found under desert sands and used as fertilizer for lime-deficient soils. tr.v. , Switzerland, where it has developed 16 stereolithography materials for 3D Systems. ``When our current obligation for (stereolithography) material development ends in February 2002, we will work with RPC to further enhance our SL material product lines and develop new materials,'' said Grant Flaharty, senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing for 3D Systems. RPC's materials are fully compatible with 3D Systems' SLA (1) (StereoLithography Apparatus) See 3D printing. (2) (Service Level Agreement) A contract between the provider and the user that specifies the level of service expected during its term. product line and provide a variety of properties, including durability, heat resistance and detailed surface finish. Founded in 1986, 3D Systems provides solid imaging products and solutions that help reduce the time and cost of designing products and facilitate manufacturing. Its systems utilize patented technologies that create physical objects from digital input. 3D Systems currently offers the ThermoJet solid object printer, stereolithography systems and selective laser sintering See laser sintering and 3D printer. systems, as well as related software and materials. Product pricing in the U.S. ranges from $49,995 for the ThermoJet printer, to $799,000 for the high-end SLA 7000 system. The company licenses the complementary 3D Keltool process, a method for producing steel mold inserts, and currently is developing systems that use composite paste materials for direct manufacturing. In August, 3D Systems merged with DTM DTM dermatophyte test medium. Corp., based in Texas, a merger that was challenged by the federal government, and settled last month. |
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